At 28-32-10 with 12 games remaining on the schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thin thread, but they are still alive and losing tonight at home to the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets is not an option. The Blue Jackets have not played well on the road, at 11-19-4. They come into PPG Paints Arena tonight losers of 5 straight and over that span they have mustered just 4 goals. The Penguins have won 4 of their last 5 and have played well at home, with a record of 17-14-5. They will come out swinging tonight because they have nothing to lose.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS